MITOCHONDRIAL MEMBRANE POTENTIAL, MORPHOLOGY AND ATP PRODUCTION IN MAMMALIAN CELLS EXPOSED TO X-RAYS

This study aimed to reveal the effect of X-irradiation on mitochondrial function in terms of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and ATP productivity. At the cellular level, ΔΨm was quantified using JC-1, a mitochondrial probe that emits red or green fluorescence at high or low ΔΨm sites, respectively. The fluorescence area was quantified for both colors together relative to the whole-cell area of the same cell. The fluorescence areas versus whole-cell areas varied widely among the irradiated cells depending on the X-ray doses received (6 and 10 Gy) and incubation time, although the relative red area to total mitochondrial area was rather constant. Average ATP concentrations temporarily increased and showed a maximum at 48 h after irradiation for largely G1-arrested cells. These results indicate that an increase of mitochondrial volume per cell, not simply an increase in their active sites, is induced by irradiation, resulting in enhanced ATP production.